WASHINGTON — On March 4, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Chairperson Aaron Payment was named to the U.S. Department of Education committee that will draft proposed regulations for the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), signed into law last December to
replace the No Child Left Behind Act.

The committee will draft proposed regulations in two areas. One area is the requirement that federal funds supplement, not supplant, non-federal funds in high-need schools and the other area is assessments. The committee will meet in March and April.

Payment said, “To ensure a leadership voice in education, I will facilitate a professional learning community work session of local, regional public and tribal school input.” The ESSA addresses all
students, including the 92 percent of Native American pupils who attend public schools. The chairperson will be assisted by JKL School Dean of Student Affairs Carolyn Dale, who also directs federal, state and school programs, to coordinate input.

“The National Indian Education Association is pleased to have Aaron Payment, chairman of Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, be nominated for the Department of Education’s Negotiated Rulemaking Committee,” NIEA Executive Director Ahniwake Rose said. “NIEA is
honored to have Chairman Aaron Payment contribute to the diversity and expertise of the committee. With his extensive experience in working with tribes, local districts and states, Chairman Payment is a solid candidate to represent tribal leadership on a national level.”

Payment also serves on the National Advisory Council on Indian Education that advises the Secretary of Education on Indian education issues.